Detachable half sole and heel



June 16, `1925.

. L. ROBIDOUX DETACHABLE HALF som AND HEEL Filed Aug. 20, 1925 stationary sole 2.

Patented June 16, i925.

UNITED STATES LOUIS ROBIDOUX, or NORFOLK DOWNS, MASSACHUSETTS.

DTAoi-IBLE HALF SOLE AND HEEL.

Application filed `vILngusf; 20, 1923. `Serial No. 658,327.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS RoBiDoUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk Downs, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Half Soles and Heels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to boots and shoes and relates more particularly to detachable half soles and heels which may readily be removed to permit new ones to be attached. The Sole and heel are connected with the shoe by undercut rib and groove connections and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a novel means, formed integrally with the parts, for holding the detachable member against accidental sliding and consequent detachment.

Vith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter' hereinafter described and claimed,lthe description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing both a heel and a half sole applied to a shoe in accordance with the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views as indicated by lines 2-2 and 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the heel portion of a shoe constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the detachable heel member.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the heel member, Showing a slightly different form of construction. Y

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral l designates a shoe having a A piece (or several pieces) of leather or other desired material 3, is attached to the heel portion of the sole 2 and is formed with a longitudinal slot 4 which Opens at the front end of the heel but is closed at the rear end of the latter, the rear end of the Slot being Slightly enlarged as indicated at 5, in most instances. The edge walls of the slot 4 are undercut as indicated at 6. i

A detachable heel member 8'is provided with a central rib 9 on its upper side, provided with undercut edges and with an enlarged rear end 10. By sliding the rib 9 rearwardly in the slot 4, the heel is attached, it being understood that the walls of the slot 4 and the rib enlargement 10, will yield to permit `this movement, and that the enlargement will spring oreXpand into the enlargement 5 when the latter is reached, thus assisting in holding the heel in place. To insure further against accidental detachment of the heel, I provide the construction described below. One 'of the members 3 or 8, preferably the member 3, is formed with a plurality of transverse grooves or recesses 11, at the edges and rear end of the slot 4, and the other member is provided with transverse resilient teeth 12, which inc-line forwardly and snap into the grooves or recesses, when the heel is in place. To form these teeth, I provide transverse cuts 13 in the tooth-carrying member, each cut being in an inclined plane. The material at the upper side of each cutis bulged upwardly and forms the teeth. The operation of forming these teeth is very similar to that performed in channeling the edge of a shoe sole.

By securing the heel in the manner disclosed, it is practically impossible to remove it without first cutting it longitudinally, permitting its opposite edge portions to be pressed inwardly to Some extent and allowing the central portion of the heel to be pried downwardly if necessary to release the teeth 12.

The front portion of the stationary sole 2 is provided with a detachable half sole 8a secured in place in the same manner as the heel 8, with the exception that the longitudinally 4slotted piece of material 3a with which the sole contacts, is provided with a transverse inclined cut 14 forming a recess in said piece 3 and a lip 15 which receives the wedge-shaped rear end 16 of the detachable half sole. down if desired.

In addition to the securing means 14m- 15--l6, the same arrangement is employed, which is used in connection with the heel.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive .means for detachably Securing a removable sole member (heel or half sole) to a stationary Sole. As excellent results are obtainable from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor changes may be made.

This lip maybe cemented l claim A shoehaving relatively stationary and? detachable sole members, an undereiitvrilo and groove connectingsald memhervsthe in 5 ner face of one meI/nlje'havinlg spaced 'seek'-4 ets formed therein, the contacting faQ-e of the other member having similarly spaced knife cuts in inclined planes,e the material at one Yremove the ydieta@hable member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature'.

LOUIS ROBIDOUX. 

